Article handling apparatus



ct 2, 195 H. E. ANDREWS ET AL 2,765,067

ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Harry E. Andrews Horace E. Gamer Donald M. Bro wn INVENTORS BY WW 12m Oct. 2, 1956 H, E. ANDREWS ET AL 2,755,0

ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1953 QQI oooooooo ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS Harry E. Andrews, Horace E. Corner, and Donald M. Brown, Phoenix, Ariz.

Application December 29, 1953, Serial No. 400,872

3 Claims. (Cl. 198--147) This invention relates generally to article handling apparatus and pertains more particularly to improvements in the mechanism illustrated and described in application Serial No. 364,782, filed June 29, 1953, now Patent No. 2,684,751.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved assembly for use in conjunction with the article handling apparatus described in the above application.

More particularly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved receptacle mechanism in the form of scoops so suspended as to automatically return to a horizontal or loading position after the dumping action has been completed.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevational view showing the improved assembly in use;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view as indicated by the line 33 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 4-4 in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the chann l members form a trackway in which the chain assembly 12 runs, the chain assembly having a series of support post members 14 rigidly atfixed thereto in upstanding relation. The upper flanges of the channel members it) are provided with cam rail members 16 which are disposed in staggered relationship, as shown most clearly in Figure l, the purpose of this construction being presently apparent. A U-shaped support bracket member is secured to the upper end of the support post 14 with its bight portion 18 rigidly afiixed thereto at substantially its medial point, and the support bracket includes the depending arm portions 20 extending downwardly from opposite ends of the bight portion 18 in the manner illustrated most clearly in Figure 2. Horizontal support rods 22 are secured to the lower ends of each of the arms 2 and these rods extend in opposite directions from the arm at right angles to the bight portion 18 in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 3. Collar members 24 are adjustably secured longitudinally of the support rod 22 by means of the setscrew members 26 and support strap members 28 are rigidly affixed to the outer surface of these collars, the support straps extending toward each other in the direction of the cam rails 16. Scoop members 30 are provided with hinge strap memite dtatcs Patent 0 2,765,067 Patented Oct. 2, 1956 bers 32 on their undersurfaces at approximately their midpoints and a pintle 34 pivotally connects these scoops to the supporting strap 28 in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 5. The open ends of the scoops face away from each other on opposite sides of the trackway assembly and each scoop is provided with an end wall 36 to which a weight member 38 is removably affixed, as by the clip members 40.

After the scoops have been loaded, as shown in full lines in Figure 1, the Weights 38 are sufiiciently heavy to maintain the scoops at all times in a horizontal position and supported thus by the strap members 28 either when loaded or unloaded. As the inner adjacent end portions of the scoops engage against the ramp portions of the cam rails 16, they are simultaneously moved to the unloading position, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, wherein the material in the scoops is dumped therefrom. Some measure of control of the point of dumping is eifected by the adjustability of the collar members 24 longitudinally of the support rods 22, the dumping points on opposite sides of the trackway being also capable of coordination by this mechanism. After the scoops disengage from the cam rails, they will once again maintain the horizontal position.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood, and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In an article handling apparatus, a support post, an inverted U-shaped support bracket connected centrally of its bight portion to the upper end of said post with said bight portion horizontal and having terminal arms depending therefrom at opposite sides of said post, a pair of support rods extending in opposite directions from the lower ends of said arms to position the same at opposite sides of said bracket, said rods being disposed in a plane parallel to said bight portion, the longitudinal axes of said rods being disposed in right angular relation to said bight portion, an elongated article receiving scoop pivotally carried on the free end of each of said rods for support by said rods at opposite sides of said bracket, and an abutment strap secured to each of said rods crosswise thereof in underlying longitudinally extending relation to a corresponding scoop, said scoops being overbalanced in the direction of said straps whereby they normally rest thereon.

2. In an article handling apparatus according to claim 1, said straps being adjustable longitudinally of said rods, said scoops being pivotally mounted on said straps for adjustment therewith.

3. In an article handling apparatus according to claim 1, said scoops having confronting closed ends counter- Weighted for overbalancing in the direction of said straps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,344,596 Carmina Mar. 21, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 147,022 Germany Ian. 7, 1904 415,773 Germany July 4, 1925 

